An item I sold recently was Out for Delivery in Alexandria, VA as of yesterday, 11/30. The delivery scan never came, and around midnight last night the tracking status changed to "Delivery Status Not Updated". I hoped it would delivered today and the status would change to Delivered, but it has remained "Delivery Status Not Updated" all day today and now this evening.
I know this can sometimes happen when the mail carrier simply forgets to scan the package at the delivery point, or if something is wrong with the scanner so the information never gets uploaded to the tracking system. I have not yet heard from the buyer, so I hope this is the case, but it is early yet.
Fortunately I did send this package insured, so theoretically if it is lost I should be able to get reimbursed. The package value was $100.
As this has never happened to me before, I'm looking for some advice on how to handle this situation. Is it best to keep quiet until I hear from the buyer? And if I do hear from the buyer, that he/she has not received the package, what then? My concern is if the buyer wants a refund due to INR, and I go ahead and give them their money back, and then the package is delivered shortly thereafter, I will be out of luck, as the buyer will have both their money back and the item.
How best to handle this situation? Is it possible after issuing a refund, to instruct USPS to return the package to me if it is found?
Hopefully it will not come to this, but I want to be prepared in case it does. Thanks for any widsom/advice you can provide!
